The saying that you first eat with your eyes, holds true for Rumi, a wonderful little middle eastern discovery along Parnell’s restaurant row.
This charming Iranian owned and family-run halal eatery is as alluring from the outside as it is on the inside. You almost feel like you’ve stepped into a secret Aladdin’s cave from the warm clay colours that make the interior cosy, to the furnishing, pottery, bronze ornaments and dining utensils to the lovely Iranian carpets adorning the bench seats to the ones stylishly hanging off the rafters!
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1. Besides the delightful ambience, the food is excellent and reasonably priced.
2. Our party of three started with the eggplant appetizer - a kashk badem served with naan and garlic bread. Delicious and totally whets the appetite.
3. Picked a mixed meat platter - koobideh with roasted lamb, beef and chicken marinated in different fascinating and exotic spices served on a silver platter.
4. Perfect accompaniment to the Fesenjoon which was tender chicken breast slow cooked in a sweet and tangy broth made from pomegranate sauce.
5. To ensure that not a drop of the sauce was wasted, we ordered a generous platter of the most visually appetizing grainy herb rice that came in three varieties and looked like a delightful celebratory explosion of fabulous colours and textures.
Finished with Persian tea and a hankering to plan our next visit back SOON.
Good service and good food. They might be on the pricier side in my opinion but you’re getting quality food. Ordered Baghali Polo and the lamb is just falling off the bone, served with a salad and spiced rice. Paid 30$ for that but worth it. My husband enjoyed his Soltani (skewers of lamb and beef) as well for 30$ - so you know why im saying on the pricier side 😬. Not saying that in a bad way as you’re getting what you paid for ☺️. Nice ambiance and vibe of Parnell as it is nestled just in the heart of it.
If the weather is warm, ask to seat outside. Our party of 6 adults and 2 kids enjoyed and loved it. We had a Persian friend in our group and he explained the different dishes, so we ordered a lot of food. Most have similar taste to certain Indian foods but milder and definitely not “chillie” hot. Delicious, well-cooked, authentic and each dish came out one after another, - no awkward waiting. I was looking forward to trying out Tah-Dig (Persian rice with golden crust) but disappointed at how small it was served. Service was good; owner/host was welcoming and warm; prices are reasonable; ambience was lovely and we had a brilliant evening!
Being of half Iranian ethnicity, I can happily say the food here is traditional and authentic - pretty spot on regarding flavors. Its the kind of food we have at family gatherings and the yummy meals our parents would prepare. So if you want an authentic Persian meal you will definitely get it here. The meat was tender and juicy (chicken, beef and lamb) however we all did feel that the Rumi special (which I highly recommend) was over priced coming in at $35 where I feel it should be around $28 tops. There is simply no way its worth that much in relation to the ingredients used or the portion size. Anyway, the foods great and we will be back!
Hands down my favourite restaurant in Auckland 😍 everything is to die for!
Love the service. Been here few times and never was disappointed.
The food extremely delicious and the ambiance is relaxing. Definitely one of my favorite place in parnell.
Absolutely amazing food and beautiful location/interior. Had no idea how much I loved Persian food until eating here. Going back tonight and very excited to get another lamb dish.
A very small but great place to eat, interesting and very tasty food highly recommend it and is quite busy
Rumi is my favorite restaurant in Auckland. The food gives you the real Persian food experience. It’s a must go!!! Especially the Kebabs are delicious which is caused to fresh and soft meat! Reza is always friendly and hospitable :).
This restaurant is amazing, great food, great customer service. The owner (Reza) is very friendly and hospitable. Recommended to everyone. Thanks!
From the moment we walked in, the warm and attentive service set the tone for a memorable dining experience. Every dish, artfully presented, was a symphony of flavours that danced on the palate. The staff's knowledge and recommendations were spot on, making for a seamless evening of culinary delight. This establishment is a testament to the perfect blend of exceptional service and delectable cuisine. Highly recommended for those seeking a top-notch dining experience!
From the moment we stepped through the door, we were greeted with warm smiles and a welcoming atmosphere. The ambiance of the restaurant, with its tasteful decor and soothing music, created a sense of tranquility that made us feel instantly at ease.
Every dish we ordered surpassed our expectations, showcasing the rich and vibrant flavors of Persian cuisine. Each bite was a symphony of taste, expertly prepared and presented with meticulous attention to detail.
The service we received was impeccable. The staff members were attentive, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to ensure that our dining experience was flawless
Authentic Persian cuisine and middle eastern owners. They were very nice and food was yummy. We ordered slow cooked lamb and chicken leg and both meals were very tender and well served ($36 each). We asked for salt and pepper since we found the meals missing seasoning but the manager explained to us they are typical from that type of cuisine/region. We ordered baklava and saffron ice cream ($16) and Persian coffee ($8). Very small portion but really tasty baklava. The whole experience is great. Recommended!
As our first official, in dining experience in Auckland, we could not have picked a better place. One of our promises to each other was to make fun food choices, so when offered Thai, Italian or Persian, we chose Persian and it was fabulous. We got the sampler plate, the meat was tender and full of flavor (filet, chicken and lamb). The rice was a perfect flavor to enhance the meat but not overwhelm. And we split two plate between three people and got stuffed. The staff were very kind and attentive, overall, a great way to start the food portion of our vacation,
Rumi Restaurant is a hidden gem for Halal Persian food. While the restaurant may be on the smaller side, it exudes a charming atmosphere with its lovely decorations. The food, while not overwhelmingly large in portions, is undeniably delicious. If you're in the mood for some delightful Persian cuisine in a cozy setting, Rumi is the place to be.
Delicious Persian food
I recently had the pleasure of trying out a local restaurant and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and the generous portion sizes. The food was absolutely delicious, and I could tell that great care was taken in its preparation. The portions were also very generous, making it an excellent value for the money.
What really impressed me was the fact that this was a local business. In these difficult times, it's more important than ever to support our local businesses, and this restaurant is a great example of that. I feel good knowing that my money is going towards supporting a small business and helping the local economy.
Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for delicious food and great value. The portions are big, the prices are fair, and the food is top-notch. Let's all do our part to support local businesses and help them thrive in our communities!👌 😋 👍
Great middle eastern food with a matching atmosphere and good service. Lovely location, however finding parking could be challenging especially during peak hours.
Most suitable for meat lovers as the menu have limited vegetarian dishes. As a suggestion, it would be nice to have a menu with photos so the customers can get an idea of the food they're ordering.
Excellent food delivered quickly to the table. Personal service. We really enjoyed our lunch so much that we came back the next day for dinner. Lamb that falls off the bone. My husband was licking the chicken bones dry - the sauce was that good!
Amazing food! The portions were good sized and while the food took a bit of time to come out, it tasted soo good. Not quite suitable for big crowds as it's a small place but really good for smaller groups and paid parking is close by. Ice cream was a nice way to finish the evening. The chicken on its own was good but my friends said that the lamb was more succulent. There's also an option of the chicken being placed ontop of the lamb - see pics.
was curious to try Persian food, so stopped here for dinner. very friendly service from the waitress
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